Members of Oklahoma City’s Vietnamese community asked the council not to approve the representation ahead of the vote.
Thuan Nguyen, president of the Vietnamese American Heritage Community of Oklahoma, noted Vu has not been able to walk since the incident and has since been put on hospice care.
"A yes vote to this resolution would allow our citizens to know that our city council will approve and support law enforcement officers with bad character," he said.
The council discussed their obligation to the city’s police officers under state statutes and the Fraternal Order of Police’s collective bargaining contract.
Ward 7 Councilman Camal Pennington said the council was not voting on whether they support Gibson’s actions.
“The question is, are we obligated to cover his legal expenses by being an employee,” Pennington said during the meeting “And if our objection is to that policy, then let’s join together in getting rid of that policy.”
Pennington further agreed with Nguyen’s call for a review of the police department’s use of force policies and how they deal with seniors.
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